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“We’re ready”
Tamara Schenk, Offering Manager for Smart Energy at T-Systems, on Deutsche Telekom’s portfolio for smart grids and smart metering.
Frau Schenk, what do smart grids and smart metering have to do with Deutsche Telekom’s services?
When we talk about intelligent grids, we’re also referring to large-scale voice and data networks – so we’re immediately talking about services Deutsche Telekom can provide. In order to establish smart grids and be able to communicate with customers, energy providers require networks similar to those used in telecommunications. And smart metering solutions, like ours, form the basis of smart grids.
When we talk about intelligent grids, we’re also referring to large-scale voice and data networks – so we’re immediately talking about services Deutsche Telekom can provide. In order to establish smart grids and be able to communicate with customers, energy providers require networks similar to those used in telecommunications. And smart metering solutions, like ours, form the basis of smart grids.
Are there any other areas where you see Deutsche Telekom and T-Systems playing a larger role?
In the T-City of Friedrichshafen, for example, we are successfully employing our smart metering solution based on multi-utility servers. These small devices not only measure a household’s electricity consumption but can also record gas and water consumption. The appliance is connected to our telephone and data network and forwards data via our smart metering platform to the relevant utility. The data can be transferred over a fixed-line network or wirelessly via a cell phone chip. So Deutsche Telekom’s resources will be of central importance to projects of this nature.
In the T-City of Friedrichshafen, for example, we are successfully employing our smart metering solution based on multi-utility servers. These small devices not only measure a household’s electricity consumption but can also record gas and water consumption. The appliance is connected to our telephone and data network and forwards data via our smart metering platform to the relevant utility. The data can be transferred over a fixed-line network or wirelessly via a cell phone chip. So Deutsche Telekom’s resources will be of central importance to projects of this nature.
How will smart grids cope with the huge volumes of data?
Efficient, intelligent management of this data is one of the key challenges for smart grids. As the number of households with a smart meter grows, the data volume increases too and processing becomes more complex. And that is where T-Systems and its data centers come in. In the future, data will have to be managed and sometimes enriched according to its purpose, and that requires processing power. The data will be filtered to reduce its total volume and the data which is really necessary is sent via the grid. To do this we will deploy nodes in the distribution network, multi-utility meters in households and the step-down transformer. This is the only financially feasible way to process the huge data volume.
Efficient, intelligent management of this data is one of the key challenges for smart grids. As the number of households with a smart meter grows, the data volume increases too and processing becomes more complex. And that is where T-Systems and its data centers come in. In the future, data will have to be managed and sometimes enriched according to its purpose, and that requires processing power. The data will be filtered to reduce its total volume and the data which is really necessary is sent via the grid. To do this we will deploy nodes in the distribution network, multi-utility meters in households and the step-down transformer. This is the only financially feasible way to process the huge data volume.
What happens with the processed data?
That depends on how it is to be used. From late 2010, energy providers will be legally obliged to offer pricing schemes that take grid load into account, which will make billing significantly more complex. The telecommunications industry underwent similar regulation in the past – with the result that there are somewhere in the region of 5,000 different tariffs available today. To manage this complexity, we have developed systems that can be used to generate utility bills – on behalf of our customer. These billing systems can process large volumes of data efficiently.
That depends on how it is to be used. From late 2010, energy providers will be legally obliged to offer pricing schemes that take grid load into account, which will make billing significantly more complex. The telecommunications industry underwent similar regulation in the past – with the result that there are somewhere in the region of 5,000 different tariffs available today. To manage this complexity, we have developed systems that can be used to generate utility bills – on behalf of our customer. These billing systems can process large volumes of data efficiently.
Will consumers be able to make savings on their electricity?
To do that, they need to know how much electricity they’re using and when. We have developed a Web portal for utilities that measures real-time energy consumption. Energy providers can integrate the tool into their Websites – enabling their customers to monitor consumption online. This sort of transparency is a starting point, but it doesn’t offer any added value by itself. The key is to use the information to develop new pricing models and products that offer customers more convenience and additional services.
To do that, they need to know how much electricity they’re using and when. We have developed a Web portal for utilities that measures real-time energy consumption. Energy providers can integrate the tool into their Websites – enabling their customers to monitor consumption online. This sort of transparency is a starting point, but it doesn’t offer any added value by itself. The key is to use the information to develop new pricing models and products that offer customers more convenience and additional services.
Is data protection an issue here?
Yes, a very important one. We protect data both in the multi-utility smart meters and while in transit over the network. To do this we deploy the same processes that protect our voice and data networks, for example, data encryption or tunnel connections, protected from outside access. If the data is processed and stored in one of our data centers, we ensure it is protected in line with the latest technological developments.
Yes, a very important one. We protect data both in the multi-utility smart meters and while in transit over the network. To do this we deploy the same processes that protect our voice and data networks, for example, data encryption or tunnel connections, protected from outside access. If the data is processed and stored in one of our data centers, we ensure it is protected in line with the latest technological developments.
